Car-coupling device



Aug. 11, 1925..

s. BUSH ET AL CAR COUPLING: DEVICE Filed July 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l S. P. BUSH ET AL GAR COUPLING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

UITE. STATES Aren't orric SAMUEL PRESCOTT BUSH AND HARRY HAMILTON WOLFE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, AS- SIGNOB-S TO THE BUCKEYE STEEL CASTINGS COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING 'nnvrcn.

Application filed July 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL P. BUsH and HARRY H. VVOLIE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Coupling Devices; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car couplings of the transition type which are designed for use in those instances where all the cars of a railroad are not equipped with automatic couplers and it becomes necessary at times to connect an automatic coupler with a conpler of the old hook form. The present invention seeks to provide a transition coupling which may be easily applied to the drawhead of an automatic coupler and when applied will be secure against premature or accidental removal; may be easily shifted out of the way when two automatic couplers are to be connected; willeflectually connect an automatic coupler with a hook coupler, and will possess sufficient flexibility to accommodate unequal loading of the cars. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully set forth, the novel featuresbeing particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of our improved transition coupling in use;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the initial position when the device is to be assembled with the automatic coupler;

Figure 4: is a diagrammatic elevation showing the positions assumed when the coupled cars approach each other;

Figure 5 is'an illustration of the position given the transition device when two automatic couplers are to be connected;

Figure 6 is a detail of the bail or trunnion link;

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views showing a form of the invention differing in some details from the form shown in the preceding figures.

In carrying out the present invention, the drawhead 1 of the automatic coupler is formed with a trunnion 2 on its knuckle 1924. Serial in. 724,818.

side and with a trunnion 3 on its guard arm side which are in axial alinement and located near the top of the drawhead and in the proper theoretical horizontal plane to bring the pull in normal position on the same level as the hook coupler on the unconverted car. A trunnion hook, bail or link 4: is also provided and as shown most clearly in Figure 6-, is of a general bail formation having parallel side members 5 and a connecting or bridge member 6 which is disposed obliquely relative to the side members whereby an acute angle 7 is formed at the front end of the bail adjacent the guard arm side thereof. The rear ends of the side members of the bail are formed into trunnion-engaging hooks 8 which are preferably flat-sided and properly proportioned to permit the connecting link 9 to be engaged therewith, said link 9 carrying the hook link 10 adapted to engage the coupler hook 11, as shown and as will be understood.

To assemble the coupling, the connecting link 9 is engaged with the bail t. The key or other fastening which secures the drawhead is released and the drawhead is drawn forwardly five or six inches which will permit the bail to be laid back over the top of the drawhead, as shown in Figure 3, with the hook ends 8 thereof engaging the trunnions, whereupon the bail is rotated forwardly about the trunnions until it assumes its normal position shown in Figure 2. The drawhead is then returned to its normal position' 'whereupon the bail cannot be removed unless the drawhead be drawn forward far enough to permit the bail to be rotated backward, it being noted that a portion of the hook has a greater dimension in a vertical plane, between its point and "shank portions so that it is locked in its working position by the top wall of the guard arm. It will thus be seen that the transition device may be put on or taken off without removing the coupler from the car or obtaining the services of a blacksmith. It will be noted upon reference to Figure 1 that the connecting link 9 seats in the angle 7 of the bail so that its lateral movement is limited and it will be maintained in line with the hook coupler 11. It will also be noted that the center line of the pull will be at one side of the actual center line of the drawhead 1, the greater portion of the pull being applied to the trunnion on the guard arm side of the drawhead so that the drawhead is pulled off center and more clearance is provided for the link 9. On account of this the pull in the arm 6 is considerably less than in the arm 4, and therefore cross sectional area may be proportionately decreased whereby more space for the desired flexibility to links 9 and 10 is obtained in all positions. The links 9 and 10 with the bail or link 4 impart great fleX- ibility to the transition device so that it readily accommodates itself to the difference in heights of the cars whether due to loading or to the build of the cars, and, upon reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that when the cars come together the transition links will collapse or fold into the knuckle chamber or mouth of the drawhead and proper engagement with the hook coupler will be maintained without any amming or damage to the links 9 and 10.

hen the cars to be coupled are both equipped with automatic couplers, the transition device is arranged as shown in F igures 5 and 8, the links 9 and 10 being swung to the knuckle side of the drawhead and held in such position out of the way by the engagement of the upstanding lugs 28. This adaptability of our device makes feasible the formation of a hole in the top of the lock casing of the automatic coupler and the employment of top-lift couplers.

In Figures 7 and 8, is shown a form of the invention in which the drawhead 20 is provided with a trunnion on its knuckle side to be engaged by a hook at the end of the bail, but on the guard arm side of the drawhead a hook 21 is formed while the corresponding end of the bail, is formed into an eye 22 to engage said hook. The drawhead is also provided with upstanding lugs 23 adjacent the pivot of the knuckle behind which the hook link and the connecting link may be engaged when two automatic couplers are to be coupled. The operation of this form of the invention is just the same as the operation of the first-described form.

Having fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. 111 a transition car coupling, the combination with a drawhead of the automatic type, of holding elements on the sides of the drawhead, and a bail constructed with open sided terminals to fit to the holding elements when extending rearwardly over the drawhead and rock forwardly into look ing engagement therewith.

2. In a transition car coupling, the combination with a drawhead having laterally projecting trunnions on its sides near its top, of a bail terminating in hooks to engage said trunnions, one of the hooks having a greater dimension in a vertical plane between its point and shank portions, Whereby in working position it will be locked in place by the top wall of the guard arm on the drawhead.

3. In a transition car coupling, the combination of a drawhead having laterally projecting trunnions on its opposite sides, a bail consisting of side members of unequal length and an obliquely disposed bridge member connecting the front ends of the side members and forming an acute angle with the longer side member, the rear ends of the side members forming flatsided hooks to engage the trunnions, and a coupling element carried by the bail and normally seating in the acute angle thereof.

4. In a transition car coupling, the combination with a drawhead of the automatic type, of a bail engaged at its rear ends with the opposite sides of the drawhead to swing bodily over the drawhead, coupling links carried by the bail and adapted to extend across the drawhead and down one side thereof in inoperative position when the bail is over the drawhead and means on the top of the drawhead for retaining the links in inoperative position.

5. In a transition car coupling, the combination with a drawhead, of a bail engaged at its rear ends with opposite sides of the drawhead and at its outer end carrying coupling links, and lugs on the automatic coupler to hold the connecting links in position when the latter are swung to one side when both cars to be coupled are equipped with automatic couplers.

In testimony whereof, we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL PRESCOTT BUSH. HARRY HAMILTON WOLFE. IVitnesses WILLIAM J AY BENNETT, FRED WINDOW EISELSTEIN. 

